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You are here: Home / Easter & Resurrection / When Easter Baskets aren’t Easter Baskets

When Easter Baskets aren’t Easter Baskets

resurrection day ideas

The last few years I’ve tried to celebrate all the egg-bunny-basket stuff of Easter on the first day of Spring. This year I was out of town and never got around to having a Spring Party. So, I decided to do something different with our “Easter Baskets”. I’ve seen this from a few other smart mamas and tried to adapt them for us. We did this yesterday to help kick off our Resurrection Day celebrations.

So, here are the TEN THINGS WE PUT IN THE KIDS’ EASTER BASKETS

1. Rocks

easter basket alternative

First the kids went outside and collected rocks in their Easter Baskets. They definitely thought this was weird. When we came inside we laid out all our rocks and I read Ezekiel 36:26 and talked about how when we sin, it’s like big rocks in our heart! Then we talked about sins we struggle with (whining, complaining, being selfish, etc.) and I wrote them with a Sharpie on the rocks.

2.  Red Cloth

Then we brought out a piece of red cloth (it was really Lydia’s Snow White cape) and talked about how Jesus died on the cross and shed his red blood for all our stony rocky sins. 1 Peter 2:24 is a great one to read here, ““He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness”. Then we laid the cape over the baskets.

3. Prayer

We joined hands and I prayed that God would remind us of His sacrifice and that His blood can take away all of our sins. I had the kids repeat me. And it was sweet!

kids easter basket

When their Daddy got home, we told him all about our rock hunt, the sin rocks and the robe. Then we ran downstairs to show him the baskets. But when we got downstairs, a new basket greeted them! A basket with Jesus’ name on it—and full of THEIR ROCKS. Their baskets were still covered with the red cloth and when they pulled it off they were greeted with GIFTS to help them grow in the Lord and to remind them of His great gift to them…

4. Necklace

resurrection day

I got Lydia a pretty pink cross necklace. She loves jewelry and since we’ve been talking about the cross so much, I think it will be a constant reminder of the story. I love Katie’s idea of giving jewelry on Easter (scroll down, it’s at the bottom!)

5. Benjamin’s Box

easter books

Leigh posted about this story last year and I’ve always wanted it. We read it last night and the kids were mesmerized by it! It was really very good! And can easily be coupled with Resurrection Eggs if you want.

6. Adventures in Odyssey

easter basket gifts

I bought the first album of Adventures in Odyssey for Lydia a few years ago. She loves listening to Odyssey and I have to admit–I love it, too. I think the themes may be the tiniest bit too old for her (school themes, peer pressure, etc.). But I want to collect them all so that when she is the target age, we’ll have lots to choose from!

7. Veggie Tales Garden

easter gifts

I saw these on facebook the other day and knew I wanted to get them for the kids. They LOVE planting anything! I told them it was a reminder to plant God’s Words in their hearts and to grow in Him. (They are available at Home Depot and Kmart—but my Home Depot didn’t have them!)

8. Psalty

easter basket gifts

I bought the kids Psalty #8 which is a baseball theme. Since my husband is a big Braves fan the kids will love this one!

9.The Jesus Movie: Read and Share DVD Bible

easter basket gifts

I’ve seen a few good reviews on this book and wanted to check it out.  This is a full-length movie about the death and resurrection of Jesus.

10. Larry Watch

easter basket gifts

Asa wanted a watch. This one is Larry. I couldn’t resist! 🙂

So, that’s how we did our “Easter” baskets! I liked it! It was fun and from the look on Lydia’s face, they seemed to feel the significance of it. Oh, and don’t worry, I’ve still got a chocolate lamb on the way for both of them. (OK, and one for me, too!)

 See our 2017 unEaster baskets,  2016 unEaster baskets and part A, my son’s 2015 basket, 2014 unEaster baskets, 2013 unEaster baskets & our printable Scripture cards for your Easter Basket!

sor-468

More from my site

  • Memories & MemorialsMemories & Memorials
  • Sense of the Resurrection Schedule SuggestionsSense of the Resurrection Schedule Suggestions
  • A Fragrant AromaA Fragrant Aroma
  • How To Talk To Your Kids About the Hard Parts of the Easter StoryHow To Talk To Your Kids About the Hard Parts of the Easter Story
  • Our “unEaster” Baskets 2013Our “unEaster” Baskets 2013
  • An un-Easter Basket for YOUAn un-Easter Basket for YOU

Category: Easter & Resurrection

❮ ❮ Firsts: Top Ten {Tuesday}
The Spotless Lamb ❯ ❯

Comments

  1. QuatroMama says

    April 19, 2011 at 11:11 am

    LOVE these, Amanda. Love how you continue to impress their hearts and OUR hearts in the process. =)

    • ohamanda says

      April 19, 2011 at 7:09 pm

      Love you, Jen!

  2. Mia Carey says

    April 19, 2011 at 11:56 am

    I LOVE these ideas!!!!!!!!!!
    THANKS for SHARING!!!!

  3. Rebekah from Simply Rebekah says

    April 19, 2011 at 12:00 pm

    I remember that last year I had such a hard time finding religious things for my little one’s first Easter basket! Thanks for the great ideas for this year. (found you on Oh Amanda!)

  4. Hannah says

    April 19, 2011 at 12:58 pm

    Just popped over from top ten tuesaday.
    I love this idea, especially putting the rocks in Jesus’ basket. Very cleverly done and thougth provoking as well 🙂

  5. SaraR says

    April 19, 2011 at 3:06 pm

    I love love love this idea. We’re (and by we I mean my husband) digging post holes for a fence expansion and found large rocks. Now we have something to do with them! I also love the necklace idea. I’m thinking I may pass on some of mine to my girls.

  6. juliea says

    April 19, 2011 at 3:20 pm

    I remember you commented http://devouringhisword.blogspot.com/2011/04/easter-bunny-vs-jesus-jesus-is-winning.html about trying out the Jesus Movie, too. Since ours won’t get opened until Sunday, I’m curious to know how you liked it. Is it as good as it looks? Will we love it?

    • ohamanda says

      April 19, 2011 at 7:08 pm

      We haven’t watched it yet–I’m hoping to watch it tomorrow. I will let you know!!

    • ohamanda says

      April 21, 2011 at 2:06 pm

      We watched the Jesus Movie today. I really liked it! It was kinda slow (like all Jesus movies) but still had a good thread of a plot…I mean, they explained the story well. Like why Herod would want to kill baby Jesus and why Jesus asked Peter 3x if he loved him. They gave a little “commentary” on it.

      It was NOT scary and they didn’t show the crucifixion—they showed Jesus with bruises/scratches on him, they showed the soldiers punching him but it was from a very far distance and they showed the crosses from a distance.

      I actually enjoyed it and some of it got ME thinking about what it must have been like for the disciples. It was kinda long–over an hour. So, Asa (2.5) kept running around and jumping on my head. I feel like we talked the entire way thru the movie! 🙂

      There were a few little jokes here and there–a funny little bunny pair make appearances all thru the movie. The kids liked them.

      So, my recommendation: It is appropriate for any age. It’s a great way for kids’ to see the WHOLE of Jesus’ life. And it was Biblicaly sound (as far as *I* could tell!)

      • juliea says

        April 21, 2011 at 8:14 pm

        Thanks for the (p)review! Sounds like it’s going to be a winner at our house, too.

        And I know what you mean: those Read & Share dvd’s can be a little slow… but I think that’s part of the draw for the younger ones. Such a nice change from the overwhelming bombardment of most entertainment.

        • ohamanda says

          April 22, 2011 at 8:52 am

          I agree–TV is tooo fast!

  7. Carrie- Little Llamas says

    April 19, 2011 at 5:33 pm

    I love how you did it! Love the idea of putting the rocks in Jesus’ basket. we definitely talk about sin being Gone and what is left in our baskets are blessings..but I love the picture of jesus’ basket carrying the rocks now. LOVE it!

    • ohamanda says

      April 19, 2011 at 7:09 pm

      After we talked about it w/the kids a little bit Lydia said, “Now Jesus has all our sins!”. And I said, “Well, not really. He did take them but He conquered them and basically threw them away.” So I told her we could throw all the rocks away on Good Friday! (Hopefully I’ll remember to do that!)

      Thanks for the inspiration!

  8. Shirley says

    April 21, 2011 at 12:00 pm

    This is one of the best ideas I have seen for young children! Thank you for sharing. Also, thank you for the tip on The Jesus movie.

  9. Jamie @ See Jamie blog says

    April 22, 2011 at 11:12 pm

    These are the coolest Easter basket ideas EVER!

  10. Courtney (WomenLivingWell) says

    April 22, 2011 at 11:31 pm

    This is an awesome post! I love it! Your kids are SO blessed to have a mommy who teaches them in such creative ways!
    Courtney

    • ohamanda says

      April 23, 2011 at 9:00 am

      Thank you! I try. 🙂

  11. bluecottonmemory says

    April 23, 2011 at 4:16 am

    What a wonderful idea! Love it!

  12. melissa says

    April 23, 2011 at 9:07 am

    as always amanda you have provided a lovely way to weave the love of jesus into the norms of daily living. i love it. this is great!!!!

  13. LIZA MARTIN says

    April 23, 2011 at 8:14 pm

    hi
    im not sure if you have covered this somewhere but what do you feel is an age appropriate way to tell the story of easter? i love the idea of the rocks, red cloth ect… but not sure if talking about death and blood is too much? thanks!!

    • ohamanda says

      April 24, 2011 at 8:53 pm

      Hi Liza! Not sure if it’s too late to answer your question, but I did write about this: http://ohamanda.com/easter-jesus-death-resurrection-for-kids/

      I think kids’ CAN understand the death/resurrection—on their level. You don’t have to focus on the blood and gore. But you can focus on the sacrifice and reality of it!

      a

  14. Stacia Jahnke says

    April 24, 2011 at 1:18 am

    Amanda, thank you so much for sharing this awesome way of teaching our young ones the true meaning of Easter. I’m a Children’s Pastor and after reading this post, I decided to use it an object lesson along with our annual Egg Hunt. We did the rocks and the red cloth but then we put white cotton balls on top of the cloth to symbolize being made ‘white as snow’ and therefore making room in our hearts for all the good things God gives us..then we hunted for eggs (good things) and put them on top of the cotton balls. The kids LOVED it and I loved that it was more than ‘just an egg hunt’!! Thanks again!!

    • ohamanda says

      April 26, 2011 at 10:59 am

      Stacia! This is such an encouragement to me! You know I was a Children’s Pastor before I had kids. So, I love knowing that I kinda helped a big group of kids this year! 🙂

  15. Amy Sullivan says

    April 30, 2011 at 7:46 am

    These ideas are awesome. Way to refocus all the craziness into the important. First time here, and love what you are doing.

  16. Katie says

    March 25, 2012 at 11:50 pm

    We do still do Easter baskets (gotta have candy!) but we’ve been putting Christian gifts in too, like new Bibles, prayer journals, Christian books, etc. Our Easter bunny loves God too!

  17. Carol says

    April 4, 2012 at 9:14 pm

    What did you do with the rocks after they were in the Jesus basket?

    • ohAmanda says

      April 6, 2012 at 1:57 pm

      I think we threw them away. I remember Lydia asking about the rocks and I realized that part of my metaphor broke down! 🙂

  18. Caitlin says

    April 16, 2018 at 4:03 pm

    Thank you so much for posting these! I was able to do this activity with my son and niece as well as some children in my neighborhood this Easter! They loved it and totally “got” the gospel! What a blessing!

Welcome!


I like to think of fun ways to lead my kids to Jesus and I like to share them with you. If you're new here, start here for some fun family-time ideas!

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